September 30
72 Steps from Glory to Glory
Step 30: From the Gerasenes to Capernaum
Miracle in a Miracle
Jesus returns to Capernaum, which has become His home city.
- Matt.9:9-13; Mark 14-17; Luke 5:27-32. Mark and Luke place this story early in Jesus’ ministry while He is calling the disciples. Matthew places it later, toward the middle of Jesus’ ministry. Who is right? We don’t know. But we know that Matthew was an eyewitness. Mark and Luke were reporting what they had heard. (However, the timing is not important; the story is!)
- Levi, aka Matthew, holds a dinner party for Jesus and invites his unsaved friends.
The Pharisees criticize Jesus for eating with publicans and sinners.
- Jesus rebukes them. He explains that He was there to reach sinners. He was not concerned with the self-righteous.
- Do you think there is a problem today with people who care about appearances but not about lost people?
- Matt.9:16-17; Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39 The Parable of the torn garment or the old wineskins.
- The disciples of John ask Jesus why His disciples do not fast when they do.
- The idea behind spiritual fasting is to prepare yourself for the presence of God. That is what Jesus is teaching with the story of the bridegroom. Jesus is our Bridegroom. In His presence, you don’t fast; you feast.
- With the parable of the garment and wineskin, Jesus is teaching that the old legalistic ways are not compatible with the new Spirit-controlled life.
- How do we relate that to our life today? Do we tend to hold on to old ways and thoughts when God is showing us new and better ways to serve Him?
- Matt.9:18-22; Mark 5:21-34; Luke 8:40-48 Miracle= healing a woman with an issue of Blood.
- Performing a miracle while on the way to perform a miracle.
- This issue of blood was menstrual blood. The woman was considered unclean and had been for twelve years. Consider all that this implied.
- Mark 5:27-28 Jesus’ clothes had no healing power. In was her faith in Him that allowed her to be healed.
- Mark 5:30-34 This seems to be the first and only time that Jesus performed a miracle unknowingly.
- What questions come to your mind when you hear this story?
- Matt.9:18-22; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-48 Miracle= Raising Jairus’ daughter
- “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16
- Was Jairus a righteous man? If so, what made him righteous? I believe he became a righteous man when he bowed before Jesus.
- Here we learn that hope does not end with death, and Jesus is Lord over everything including death.
- Matt.9:27-29 Miracle = healing two blind men.
- Jesus asks, “Do you believe I can do this?” They said, “Yes”.
- What do you think Jesus might have meant when He said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.”?
Stop Here
This is about halfway through step 30. I am stopping here because the miracles that we have seen tonight all seem to be focused on faith. Let’s end tonight by talking about faith.
Look at each of tonight’s stories and see what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us about faith.
From the Bible
“While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”
So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.”
Matthew 9:18-26 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.9.18-26.NKJV
From the Home of Douglas & Deborah Huff
Down Where the Pavement Ends
